Academic Experience

The UW Danforth Educational Leadership Program prepares you to become an equity-driven leader, possessing the vision and ability to guide change and generate successful outcomes in schools and the district level.

The Danforth program is rooted in fundamental core competencies, which underpin the rigorous instruction and practice-based learning throughout your educational experience.

Powerful Cohort Model

In Danforth you’ll join a group of dynamic, motivated educational leaders. The experience forges strong reciprocal learning bonds between the students and with program instructors, beginning with an intensive, week-long retreat before classes start.

Top-Flight Instruction

As part of the nationally ranked UW College of Education, Danforth features a roster of faculty offering the best of both cutting-edge scholarship and veteran educational leadership. You’ll study the latest pedagogical research and engage with instructors who have decades of experience working in the field.

Immersive Internship

The program incorporates a rigorous on-site internship experience, overseen by a veteran mentor principal and/or program administrator. The internship involves a minimum commitment of 1,000 hours of leadership experience.

Program Format

The Danforth program spans four quarters and consists of 36 credits — 24 for classroom courses and 12 for the internship. Those who choose to earn a Master of Education degree during the program will take an additional 9 credits, for a total of 45.